TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal methylmercury exposure during early-life periods adversely affects mature enamel structure of offspring rats at human exposure levels
T2 - a concern for oral health
AU - Chemelo, Victória Santos
AU - Bittencourt, Leonardo Oliveira
AU - Nascimento , Priscila Cunha
AU - Paiva, Mayra Frasson
AU - Delbem, Alberto Carlos Botazzo
AU - Pessan, Juliano Pelim
AU - do Espírito Santo, Alexandre Ribeiro
AU - Albuquerque, Alan Rodrigo Leal
AU - Angélica, Rômulo Simões
AU - Crespo-Lopez, Maria Elena
AU - Pessanha, Sofia
AU - Aschner, Michael
AU - Lima, Rafael Rodrigues
N1 - Funding Information:
RL is a researcher from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and received grant under number 312275/2021–8. MC-L is also recognized by the CNPq as highly productive researcher with the grant number 313406/2021–9. Also, this research was funded by PROCAD Amazônia–CAPES (23038.005350/2018–78). The APC was funded by Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-graduação from Federal University of Pará (PROPESP-UFPA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 Chemelo, Bittencourt, Nascimento, Paiva, Delbem, Pessan, do Espírito Santo, Albuquerque, Angélica, Crespo-Lopez, Pessanha, Aschner and Lima.
PY - 2023/6/30
Y1 - 2023/6/30
N2 - Although there are many studies on the health effects of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity during in utero and early development, little is known about its effects on mineralized tissues present in the oral cavity, such as enamel structure. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of MeHg exposure on the physico-chemical, ultrastructural and functional properties of mature tooth enamel. Specifically, we studied offspring of mothers exposed to MeHg during the prenatal and postnatal periods which are the developmental stages associated with tooth enamel formation. Female rats were exposed to MeHg at a dose of 40 μg/kg/day for 42 days of pregnancy and lactation. The enamel of offspring was analyzed by (1) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman to assess physicochemical composition, (2) Scanning Electron Microscopy for ultrastructural evaluation, (3) Transmitted Polarizing Light Microscopy for analysis of the enamel extracellular matrix, and (4) resistance and hardness were evaluated by microhardness. The results showed that MeHg exposure during this sensitive enamel formation period induced changes in inorganic and organic content and enamel prisms ultrastructure alterations and disturbed the organic extracellular matrix due to a decreased enamel strength. These novel findings establish for the first time that maternal exposure to MeHg pre and postnatal promoted relevant changes in mature enamel of their offspring rats.
AB - Although there are many studies on the health effects of methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity during in utero and early development, little is known about its effects on mineralized tissues present in the oral cavity, such as enamel structure. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of MeHg exposure on the physico-chemical, ultrastructural and functional properties of mature tooth enamel. Specifically, we studied offspring of mothers exposed to MeHg during the prenatal and postnatal periods which are the developmental stages associated with tooth enamel formation. Female rats were exposed to MeHg at a dose of 40 μg/kg/day for 42 days of pregnancy and lactation. The enamel of offspring was analyzed by (1) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Raman to assess physicochemical composition, (2) Scanning Electron Microscopy for ultrastructural evaluation, (3) Transmitted Polarizing Light Microscopy for analysis of the enamel extracellular matrix, and (4) resistance and hardness were evaluated by microhardness. The results showed that MeHg exposure during this sensitive enamel formation period induced changes in inorganic and organic content and enamel prisms ultrastructure alterations and disturbed the organic extracellular matrix due to a decreased enamel strength. These novel findings establish for the first time that maternal exposure to MeHg pre and postnatal promoted relevant changes in mature enamel of their offspring rats.
KW - development
KW - enamel
KW - methylmercury
KW - offspring
KW - toxicity
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85164867599
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1183308
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1183308
M3 - Article
C2 - 37457266
AN - SCOPUS:85164867599
SN - 2296-2565
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in public health
JF - Frontiers in public health
M1 - 1183308
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being